Tag Archives: birding

Coda: the Dakotas and East

Posted on September 6, 2017 by rivertoprambles

With the weight of Glacier National Park and its surroundings sitting feather-like in our thoughts and on our shoulders, we drove eastward through Montana and on to North Dakota. The immense plateaus of eastern Montana were especially dry, and recent … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged birding, bison, Brookings, burrowing owls, fly-fishing, marriage anniversary, Montana, North Dakota, photography, prairie dogs, sharp-tailed grouse, South Dakota, Theodore Roosevelt Nat'l Park, Time, travel | 16 Comments

Top of the Rockies, Colorado

Posted on August 15, 2017 by rivertoprambles

Our re-introduction to the state of Colorado began with the upper Rio Grande, especially near Wagon Wheel Gap and Creede. I felt a bit remorseful for passing by the Conejos River, an excellent trout stream that I’ll have to visit … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Arkansas River, birding, Colorado, Denver, Dream Lake, environment, fly-fishing, green-backed cutthroats, hiking, nature, ouzels, photography, Rio Grande, Rocky Mountains, Rocky Mtn Nat'l Park, storms, travel | 12 Comments

Rivertops West

Posted on July 10, 2017 by rivertoprambles

On July 13, two residents from western New York State, plus four fly rods and reels, and other assorted camping gear, will be headed for the Rocky Mountains. Actually we’ll start our explorations in Alamogordo, New Mexico with a brief … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged birding, camping, fishing western rivers, fly-fishing, Genesee River trout, hiking, journey West, Montana, New Mexico, parks and monuments, Rocky Mountains, vacations | 30 Comments

Staircase Run

Posted on May 16, 2017 by rivertoprambles

The day surely started out on a bright note– a little birding in the early morning sunshine of the yard, my small binoculars picking up a bit of the warblers waving through– Blackburnian, black-throated green, ovenbird, Louisiana water-thrush and, later, the black-throated blue warbler– … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged birding, Cedar Run, environment, fishing, fly-fishing, headwaters, hiking, nature, Pennsylvania, ravines, Slate Run, small streams, staircase, trout, wild, world view | 18 Comments

Caribbean Scrambles, Part 2

Posted on May 9, 2016 by rivertoprambles

Shortly before the trip to St. Croix, I was helping my chapter of Trout Unlimited collect trash along a highway in the Genesee River Valley. It was hot, and the winter’s accumulation of garbage was disgusting. Jim, whose daughter lives … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged adventure, birding, Caribbean Islands, Caribbean Scrambles Part 2, fishing, hiking, nature, photography, snorkeling, St. Croix, swimming, travel, U.S. Virgin Islands | 24 Comments

Caribbean Scrambles, Part 1

Posted on May 5, 2016 by rivertoprambles

St. Croix and the U.S. Virgin Islands are located about 1,100 miles southeast of Miami, Florida. The islands were first settled by Carib, Arawak and Cibonay peoples and were “discovered” by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the New … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged adventure, birding, Caribbean Islands, Caribbean Scrambles Part 1, fishing, hiking, nature, photography, snorkeling, St. Croix, swimming, travel, U.S. Virgin Islands | 12 Comments

Of Birds, Friends, Trout, and Hiking Trails

Posted on March 29, 2016 by rivertoprambles

I watched a pair of tundra swans on the local marsh. This species, now migrating to the far north, is known to pair for life– an admirable trait for those of us romantically inclined– but the bird whose symbolism really … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Alfred U., birding, Easter, fishing, friendship, hiking, loons, pagan views, Potter County, steelhead, swans | 17 Comments

Gillespie Point (Pine Creek)

Posted on February 11, 2016 by rivertoprambles

On Saturday I managed to fly fish for an hour in the bitter winds along the Allegheny River, catching and releasing one rainbow trout and losing another. Not much for some, but enough inspiration to continue my outdoor weekend. Sunday, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Allegheny Plateau, birding, Blackwell PA, day hikes, Gillespie Point, hiking, Mid State Trail, mountain, nature, photography, Pine Creek Valley | 26 Comments

Beautiful Like…

Posted on October 5, 2015 by rivertoprambles

Beautiful like an autumn brook trout rising from its low-water house to snatch a dry fly on the riffles… I was on the upper Kettle just before the big rains came, and it was good. Many native trout, survivors of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Beautiful Like a Mayfly, birding, brook trout, exploration, fishing, hiking, hurricane, lunar eclipse, nature, Nature writing, Pine Creek, small presses, Straight Run, Toronto Blue Jays, tranquility, Walt Franklin, Wood Thrush Books | 18 Comments

Small Stream Shuffle and Forest Romp

Posted on July 28, 2015 by rivertoprambles

Over the past week and a half the streams and rivers of this region have settled into normal summertime flows, and I’m actually looking forward to a bit of rain again. The fishing has been good, and the streams and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bamboo, bells, birding, Chenunda Creek, Dyke Creek, E.A. Poe, fly-fishing, forest, Genesee River, hemlocks, hiking, music, nature, Pine Creek, poetry, Slate Run, small streams, thrushes, Water Sentinels, wild trout | 25 Comments